But even I, who owe much to Somals and have always championed them, admit it is exasperating to have to watch them--hiding that better side away. But such they are; in some cases men who will spend their day praying, and then rise from their knees to smash in a poor woman's skull--a woman who is within a month of giving birth to a child, and because she refuses to hand over the skin of water she has carried three miles on her back that her small children may drink. Such men are almost past redemption. My pen has run away with me. Since I sat down to write such an incident as that of which I speak has been reported and so creeps into the page. As for Hayoun the Jew, the Hindus, the Parsees and myself, we have one point in common. We are strangers in a strange land, so perforce try to understand one another, and work together. Even then there are barriers between us. A few days ago the assistant-surgeon came to my office and reported smallpox in the town. I have already described Zeila so it is unnecessary to point out how serious this outbreak might become. "Of course everyone must be vaccinated," I said. "Call the town-crier and let him tom-tom such an order through the town!" "Women as well as men?" asked the surgeon. "Women as well as men," I replied. "We'll have trouble with the Indian and Arab purdah women," said the surgeon, who is a Brahmin. "Yes," I said, "but surely there is some way of overcoming that difficulty." "Let the doctor go in and vaccinate them all," said the helpful Buralli. "If they are not afraid to show their bare legs, there's no harm in showing their arms, and they need not unveil their faces to show their arms rather than their legs." "And pray what do you know about their legs, Buralli?" "Just this," said he, "that you can see for yourself, any day you like, that an Arab woman thinks nothing of tucking up her skirt above the knees; and as she wears no stockings you can't help seeing her legs if you have eyes in your head. And, given half a chance, if you are a good-looking young fellow, she does not mind showing her face; and what harm does it do her or anyone else? Let the doctor go in and vaccinate them." The District Clerk, a highly educated Indian Mahomedan, then said, "I prefer to go to prison before I allow the surgeon to vaccinate my wife."